Bank coin pack

ABSTRACT

An elongated plastic cylinder sealed at one end and open at the other has an axially extending slot in the wall extending along the entire length of the cylinder from the closed to the open end. The outer surface of the wall adjacent the open end is reduced in diameter relative to the diameter of the outer surface over the rest of the cylinder. A cap detachably fits over the open end with the outer surface of the cap flush with the outer surface of the remainder of the cylinder.

United States Patent [1 Manuel Nov. 6, 1973 1 BANK com PACK [75] Inventor: Charles Manuel, Toronto, Canada [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, NY. a part interest [22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,237

[52] US. Cl 206/.82, 206/4534, 220/60 R, 229/51 TS, 229/93 [51] Int. Cl A45c 11/28 [58] Field of Search... 206/.8.84, 42, 4531,4534, 206/56 AC, 65 R 220/24 R, 60 R; 229/51 S, 51 TS, 51 AS, 87.2,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,949,182 8/1960 Williams 206/4531 UX 3,346,109 10/1967 Duran 206/.82 3,312,336 4/1967 Fally 206/.82

2,808,925 10/1957 OReilly 206/.82 3,272,322 9/1966 Ogle 220/60 R UX 2,444,804 7/1948 Carruthers 206/.82 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 156,923 9/1939 Germany 206/.82

Primary ExaminerGeorge E. Lowrance Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Att0rneyRichard S. Shreve, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An elongated plastic cylinder sealed at one end and open at the other has an axially extending slot in the wall extending along the entire length of the cylinder from the closed to the open end. The outer surface of the wall adjacent the open end is reduced in diameter relative to the diameter of the outer surface over the rest of the cylinder. A cap detachably fits over the open end with the outer surface of the cap flush with the outer surface of the remainder of the cylinder.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BANK COIN PACK FIELD OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed to stacking coins in rolls of proper amount without counting the coins and without using paper or other rupturable sheath material.

My invention is based on the'recognition that a hollow plastic tube can have the proper diameter and depth to accommodate a selected number of designated coins as for example 50 pennies or 20 nickels whereby when the tube is filled it will necessarily contain the proper number of coins and no counting is necessary.

SUMMARY To this end, I employ a plastic tube sealed at one end and open at the other end. A longitudinal or axially extending slot runs the entire length of the tube from the closed end to the open end. Coins can be disposed in the tube. The slot enables the user to view coins in their entirety to avoid slugs or bent coins. Moreover, the user can move a thumb or finger along the slot to assist in seating the coins.

A cap can be disposed on the open end of the tube and heat sealed thereto. The construction of cap and tube can be such that the outer surface of the cap is flush with the outer surface of the remainder of the tube.

A notch in the open end shows maximum height of all new coins in the tube when the proper number of new coins have been stacked and also minimum height for all old or worn coins in the tube when the proper number of worn coins have been stacked.

Thus, coins can be stacked in proper amount without counting. The use of the plastic tube eliminates danger of breakage, always present when paper sheaths are used, and also prevents opening and resealing, thus minimizing tampering and theft. Advertising can be engraved/embossed at moulding stage of body or cap.

After a selected number of coins have been inserted in the tube, the cap is placed thereon and sealed to the tube. The tube can contain tabs adjacent the closed end and accessible via the slot to open the tube without breaking the tightly resistant seal, and if pulled, so opening the unit, eminently displaying the fact that the coin content is no longer protected. The whole connecting in such a manner as to make said bank coin pcak tamper proof, eliminating the need to count the contents by use of U indicator, and finally, transparent, so that no bent coins, filler material or slugs are contained in said Bank Coin Pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, a hollow elongated transparent plastic tube 10 is sealed at one end 12 and open at the other end. A longitudinally or axially extending slot 14 extends inner the entire length of the tube. A short region of the tube adjacent the open end and extending between the open end and shoulder 16 has a reduced wall thickness with an outer diameter smaller than that of the outer diameter of the remainder of the tube past the shoulder. The innder diameter of the wall is uniform and smooth over the entire length.

The inner diameter and length of the tube is selected to accommodate the proper number of proper coins as previously determined. The length is set so that the proper complement of new coins will produce a stack, the top of which will be level with the top edge of V- shaped opening 18 in the open end of the tube. The depth of the opening will always be less than the thickness of any coin, no matter how worn. The proper complement of worn coins will produce a stack, the top of which will be level with the bottom apex of the opening. Stacks of mixed coins both worn and new will be level with some intermediate portion of the tube. Thus the user need only assure himself that the stack height falls within the limits defined by the slot to be sure that he has stacked the correct number of coins without counting them.

The top edge of the outer surface of the tube adjacent the open end but spaced from slot 14 has an outwardly extending tooth or prong 20.

A plastic cap 22 can be fitted over the open end with an edge engaging the shoulder and an outer diameter equal to that of the exposed surface of the remainder of the tube whereby the outer surface of cap and tube are flush. Cap 22 has a side window 24 alignable with prong 20 which extends therethrough.

After coins 26 are properly stacked in the tube, the cap is attached with window aligned with the prong. I-Ieat sealing means 28 melt theprong against the recess to seal the cap in place. Exposed ends of tab 30 are accessible via slot 14 to enable the fitted tube to be opened without breaking the seal.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. In combination, a tube adapted to receive a stack of a predetermined number of coins of like selected diameter, said tube having a closed end, an opposite open end and a slot extending the entire length of the tube between the two ends, the open tube end having a V- shaped notch defining maximum and minimum stack levels for said predetermined number of coins where the height of the stack varies with the degree of wear of the coins, said tube carrying an opening tab having exposed ends accessible from the slot, and

a cap, said cap and tube being of a plastic material,

the cap having a side window, the open end of the tube carrying a prong extending outwardly through said window, said prong being melted into sealing engagement to and around said window with the cap closing the open end of said tube.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tube and cap are transparent. 

1. In combination, a tube adapted to receive a stack of a predetermined number of coins of like selected diameter, said tube having a closed end, an opposite open end and a slot extending the entire length of the tube between the two ends, the open tube end having a V-shaped notch defining maximum and minimum stack levels for said predetermined number of coins where the height of the stack varies with the degree of wear of the coins, said tube carrying an opening tab having exposed ends accessible from the slot, and a cap, said cap and tube being of a plastic material, the cap having a side window, the open end of the tube carrying a prong extending outwardly through said window, said prong being melted into sealing engagement to and around said window with the cap closing the open end of said tube.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tube and cap are transparent. 